Mixed drink faucet



Nov. 13, 1951 BRAUN 2,574,906

MIXED DRINK FAUCET Filed May 12, 1948 /0 iifbk ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 13, 1951 MIXED DRINK FAUCET Carl J. Braun, Wooster, Ohio, assignor to The Wooster Brass Company, Wooster, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 12, 1948, Serial No. 26,499

7 Claims.

The invention relates generally to faucets for dispensing carbonated beverages, and more particularly to a novel mixed drink faucet for dispensing selectively carbonated water separately or simultaneously with a flavoring syrup or with one of several flavoring syrups.

A conventional type of faucet for carbonated beverages dispenses carbonated water and flavorins syrup separately from the dispensing spout for being mixed in a glass. This type of faucet is shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,401,914, issued June 11, 1946 to Carmelo V. DiPietro, and embodies a rotatable shutter valve having overlapping U- shaped passageways for connecting the inlet and outlet ports for the carbonated water and syrup for dispensing the carbonated water and syrup simultaneously.

With this type of prior faucet, difficulties have been experienced in maintaining a leak-proof seal between the abutting surfaces of the rotating shutter valve and the faucet body. These difliculties have been largely due to the substantial area of the abutting surfaces and to the sticky nature of the syrup which causes a residue tending to build up around the ports leading to the F insure a good seal around each port.

Moreover, in all prior faucets of this type of which I have knowledge, some sort of diffusing means is required for reducing the velocity and 7 pressure of the carbonated water so that when it is discharged into a glass, there will not be excessive agitation and turbulency resulting in the liberation of too much carbon dioxide gas, which detracts from the palatability of the drink.

It is an object of the present invention to pro vide a novel and improved faucet which is adapted to dispense either carbonated water alone or simultaneously with a flavoring syrup.

Another object is to provide a novel faucet which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages of prior faucets.

Another and more specific object is to provide a novel faucet which maintains a positive leakproof seal in shut-01f position for the carbonated water and syrup dispensed by the faucet.

A further object is to provide a novel faucet construction which readily accommodates additional passageways for conducting and dispensing several kinds of syrups.

A still further object is to provide a novel faucet which is adapted substantially to reduce the velocity and pressure of the carbonated Water flowing therethrough without requiring the usual special diffusing means.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, constructions, arrangements, and combinations which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, and a preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

In general terms, the faucet of the present invention includes coaxial cylindrical chambers each having at least one inlet port for receiving supply liquid and at least one circumferentially spaced outlet port communicating with said chamber, there being a distributing barrel journaled in each chamber having an annular groove for selectively connecting said inlet and outlet -ports, a spring pressed shoe on each barrel for selectively closing off one of said ports, and an exterior axial projection on each barrel for engagement with a single handle for simultaneous operation of both barrels, the shoes being so constructed and arranged that in one position of said handle both syrup and carbonated water are dispensed and in another position, only carbonated water is dispensed.

' Referring to the drawing forming part hereof, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example;

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the improved faucet showing two coaxial barrels in shut off position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2, Fig. 1, with parts in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional vie taken substantially on line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view; and

Fig. 5 is a detached isometric view of one of the barrels and its shoe.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

The improved faucet preferably has a body Hi provided with an inlet neck I I and an outlet neck 12 at right angles thereto. Supply tubes carrying the liquids to be dispensedfrom storage reservoirs into the faucet preferably consist of bendable tubes of corrosion-resistant metal and may include a carbonated water supply tube l3 and a syrup tube l4. These tubes extend throu h the neck I and preferably have their inner ends outwardly flared as indicated at l5 and tightly fitted in sockets in the faucet body by means of nuts l5 surrounding the tubes and screwed into sockets in the faucet body.

The inner end of the carbonated water supply tube l3 communicates with one end of an inlet port I! the other end of which opens into a cylindrical chamber or bore l8. Similarly, the inner end of the syrup supply tube l4 communicates with one end of an inlet port IS the other end of which opens into a cylindrical chamber 20. The cylindrical chambers are coaxial horizontally of the faucet body and are separated by a partition wall 2| which may be integral with the faucet body. The cylindrical chamber It extends horizontally and is open to one side of the faucet body and the chamber 29 extends horizontally and is I open to the opposite side thereof.

Each of the chambers H3 and has an outlet port communicating with the chamber and extending downwardly therefrom to the discharge neck l2. The outlet port communicating with chamber I8 is indicated at 22 and preferably is adapted to carry carbonated water from chamber l8. The outlet port communicating with chamber is indicated at 23 and is adapted to carry syrup from the chamber 20.

Preferably, a discharge spout 24 is screwed into the internally threaded. lower end 25 of the discharge neck, and the spout preferably has a knurled rib 26 thereon for facilitating screwing it into the neck portion 25.

A carbonated water discharge tube 2? is located in the spout 24 and is connected with the outlet port 22, as shown. Similarly a syrup discharge tube 28 is located in the spout with its lower end adjacent to the bottom end of the spout and extending alongside of the lower end of tube 2?, and with its upper end connected to the syrup outlet port 23.

The tubes 2! and 28 are preferably of corrosionresistant material and may be secured in the discharge neck l2 in a suitable fashion, as by brazing and preferably have their intermediate portions reversely bent in gradual curves for bringing their lower ends closely adjacent to or touching each other in the lower part of the spout 24.

The means for selectivelyconnecting inlet port I! with outlet port 22 preferably consists of a distributing barrel journaled in the cylindrical chamber l8, and the means for selectively connecting inlet port IS with outlet port 23 preferably consists of a similar distributing barrel 3| journaled in the cylindrical chamber 25. Each of the barrels 3B and 3| has a pair of axially spaced ribs 32 which maintain a close journalling fit with the interior of the respective chambers l8 and 25, and these spaced annular ribs form an annular groove or channel extending around the barrel, the annular groove around barrel 3!] being indicated at 33, and the annular groove around the barrel 3! being indicated at 34. The port I1 is located between the ribs 32 of barrel 30, and the port Isis located between the ribs 32 of a barrel 3| so that carbonated water entering through port |1 will flow around annular groove 33 to discharge out of port 22, and similarly, syrup entering through port l9 will flow around groove 34 todischarge outv of port 23.

Preferablythe body It and the barrels 35- and 3| are made of corrosion resistant.material such as stainless steel, so that all surfaces contacted by the beverage liquids flowing through the faucet are corrosion-resistant and non-toxic.

Mean for closing off one of the ports in chamber i8 preferably consists of a cylindrically curved shoe 35 of fiber or composition material which fits in aligned notches 36 in the ribs 32 of the barrel 3i], the'shoe conforming in contour with the cylindrical wall of chamber I8 and being pressed outwardly against the same by a pair of springs 3'! of corrosion-resistant material seated in sockets 31a, in the barrel. In the closed position of the faucet shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shoe 35' is located directly over the outlet port 22 for shutting off the discharge of carbonated water from chamber l8.

Similarly, the. barrel 3| has a cylindrically curved shoe 38 of fiber or composition material fitted in horizontally aligned notches 39 in the ribs 32 of the barrel, and the shoe 38 conforms to the cylindrical wall of chamber 20 and is held against the same by corrosion-resistant springs 45 seated in sockets 4| in the barrel 3|. In the closed position of Figs. 1 and 3, the shoe 38 is in position closing off the outlet port 23 to shut off the discharge of syrup from chamber 20, but the shoe 38 has a somewhat greater circumferential length than shoe 35, for a purpose to be described.

Preferably each of the barrels 3|] and 3| is provided with an outer neck 42 forming an annular channel around the outer portion of the respective chamber I8 and 20 for receiving suitable sealing gaskets 43 .of rubber and the like, and these gaskets may be V-shaped in cross section as shown. Cap plates 44 and.45 are provided to retain thebarrels 35 and 3! respectively, in position with their gaskets 43 in sealing position in the chambers l8 and 20 respectively. Preferably the cap plates 44 and 45 are seated on annular shoulders 46 on opposite sides of the faucet body, being clamped thereto by screws 41, and as indicated in Fig. 2, two of the screws may be positioned to form stops for the forward and rearward motions of the faucet handle.

Preferably, each of the barrels 30 and 3| is provided with an axial exterior projection 48 extending through the end caps 44 and 45 and having opposed fiat surfaces 49 thereon for receiving bifurcated ends 50 of a handle yoke 5|, the ends 50 being secured to the projections 48 by suitable screws 52. At its central portion the handle yoke 5| preferably has a suitable handle lever 53 attached thereto and extending upwardly therefrom.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one of thebarrels (in this case barrel 30) has a spring pressed plunger 54 urged against the partition wall 2| between chambers l8 and 20, and the plunger is adapted to frictionally engage in a depression 55 in the partition wall when the handle is in the vertical fully closed position A shown in full lines in Figs..2 and 3, as an aid to the operator in positioning the handle in fully closed position.

While I have shown a faucet adapted for dispensing water and one kind of syrup, it is obvious that additional kinds of syrup may be dispensed by connecting additional supply lines to the chamber 20 and providing additional annular grooves or channels in the barrel 3| for communicating with said additional ports.

In the. operation of the improved faucet, when the handle is in position A, both the carbonated water and the syrup are shut off, because the shoe 35 closes off outlet port 22, and the shoe 38 closes off outlet port 23. .When the handle is 15 moved to the dot-dash positionB, the shoe '35 will be moved counterclockwise to the dot-dash position and uncovers the port '22, thus allowing carbonated water to flow through the tube 21 and discharge from the lower end thereof. At the same time the shoe 38 moves counterclockwise to the dot-dash position indicated in Fig. 3 and uncovers the port 23 so that syrup discharges out of the syrup tube 28. When the handle is moved to the dot-dash position C, the shoe 35 is moved clockwise as indicated in Fig. 2 to uncover the port 22 and discharge carbonated water from tube 2'! but at the same time the shoe 38 in moving clockwise does not uncover the port 23 because of the greater cylindrical length of shoe 38. Accordingly, in position 0 of the handle, carbonated water alone is discharged from the spout of the faucet.

It will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings that when the carbonated water enters chamber [8 from port H, the greater cross sectional area of the annular channel 33 provides for a substantial reduction in velocity and pressure of the carbonated water as it flows into and around the channel 33. bonated water passes from the outlet port 22 into the discharge tube 21, the increased diameter of tube 21 willprovide a further substantial reduction in the velocity and pressure of the carbonated water, with the result that-as the carbonated water is discharged from the bottom end of tube 21, its velocity and pressure has been sufficiently reduced to prevent substantial agitation and turbulency of the carbonated water being discharged into a glass. Accordingly, carbonated water having the desired high content of carbon dioxide gas is dispensed alone or mixed in the glass with the flavoring syrup to provide a mixed drink of maximum p'alatability, without requiring special diffusing means.

The novel faucet provides a construction which is readily accommodated to the dispensing of several kinds of mixed drinks, and the spring pressed shoes of large area insure a leak-proof seal around the ports over long periods of use.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described herein is by way of example, and -the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of a preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A faucet including a body provided with coaxial cylindrical chambers, a partition wall separating said chambers, said body having a carbonated Water inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port each communicating with one of said chambers, said body having at least one syrup inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port communicating with the other cham ber, distributing barrels rotatably journaled one in each chamber and each having an exterior annular groove for selectivel connecting the in- Moreover, as the carlet and outlet ports communicating with said chamber, spring pressed cylindrically curved shoes one on each of said barrels conforming to the chamber wall for selectively closing one or said chamber ports, and exterior axial projections one on each barrel engaged with a single handle for simultaneously rotating both barrels.

2. A faucet including a body provided with coaxial cylindrical chambers, said body having a carbonated water inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port each communicating with one of said chambers, said body having at least one syrup inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port communicating with the other chamber, distributing barrels rotatably journaled one in each chamber and each having an exterior annular groove for selectively connecting the inlet and outlet ports communicating with said chamber, spring pressed cylindrically curved shoes one on each of said barrels conforming to the chamber wall for selectively closing one of said chamber ports, and means for simultaneously rotating both barrels.

3. A faucet including a body provided with coaxial cylindrical chambers, a partition wall separatin said chambers, said body having a carbonated water inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port each communicating with one of saidchambers, said body having at least one syrup inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port communicating with the other chamber, distributing barrels rotatably journaled one in each chamber and each having an exterior annular groove for selectively connecting the inlet and outlet ports communicating with said chamber, a resilient peripheral valve shoe on each of said barrels for selectively closing one of said chamber ports, and exterior axial projections one on each barrel engaged with a single handle for simultaneously rotating both barrels.

4. A faucet including a body provided with coaxial cylindrical chambers, said body havin a carbonated water inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port each communicating with one of said chambers, said body having at least one syrup inlet port and a circumferentially I spaced outlet port communicating with the other chamber, distributing barrels rotatably journaled one in each chamber and each having an exterior annular groove for selectively connecting the inlet and outlet ports communicating with said chamber, a resilient peripheral valve shoe on each of said barrels for selectively closing one of said chamber ports, and means for simultaneously rotating both barrels.

5. A faucet including a body provided with coaxial cylindrical chambers, a partition wall separating said chambers, said body having a carbonated water inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port each communicating with one of said chambers, said body having at least one syrup inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port communicating with the other chamber, distributing barrels rotatably journaled one in each chamber and each having an exterior annular groove for selectively connecting the inlet and outlet ports communicating with said chamber, the cross sectional area of said groove being substantially greater than that of the inlet port, a spring pressed cylindrically curved shoe on each of said barrels conforming to the chamber Wall for selectively closing one of said chamber ports, and exterior axial projections one on each barrel engaged with a single handle for simultaneously rotating both barrels.

'7 6. A faucet including a body provided with coaxial cylindrical chambers, a partition wall separating said chambers, said body having a carbonated Water inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port each communicating with one of said chambers, said body having at least one syrup inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port communicating with the other chamber, distributing barrelsrotatably journaled one in each chamber and each having an exterior annular groove for selectively connecting the inlet and outlet ports communicating with said chamber, a sprin pressed cylindrically curved shoe on each of said barrels conforming to chamber wall for selectively closing one of said chamber ports, an exterior axial projection on each barrel engaged with a single handle for simultaneously rotating both barrels, and a valve shoe on each of said barrels for selectively closing one of said chamber ports, the valve shoe in the syrup chamber being adapted in one position of said handle to close off the discharge of syrup when carbonated water is discharging from the other chamber, and in another position to permit the discharge of syrup simultaneously with the discharge of carbonated Water.

'7. A faucet including a body provided with coaxial cylindrical chambers, a partition wall separating said chambers, said body having a carbonated water inlet port and a circumferentially spaced-outlet port each communicating with one 8 of said chambers,'-said body having at least one syrup inlet port and a circumferentially spaced outlet port communicating with the other cham ber, distributing barrels rotatably journaled one ber being adapted in one position of said handle to close off the discharge of syrup when carbonated water is discharging from the other chamber, and in another position to permit the discharge of syrup simultaneously with the discharge of carbonated water.

CARL J. BRAUN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,516,190 Holderle Nov. 18, 1924 1,726,086 Travis Apr. 2'7, 1929 1,901,479 Travis Mar. 14, 1933 1,965,833 Geddes July 10, 1934 2,272,184 Carlson Feb. 10, 1942 2,336,027 Milliken Dec. 7, 1943 

